From the President

A
hearty congratulations to the almost seventy Vets members including 8
women members who turned out in perfect Spring weather to contest the
Club Championships on the weekend. This is a race run on age categories,
rather than our usual graded ability, so for some, it will be a tough
race, particularly if there are A and B graders in your age category,
but you are generally racing in, say, C or D grade.

Congratulations
also to the medal winners for their achievement. None were more
'chuffed' than the club handicapper who won his first club gold medal
ever! . . . after some 16 years of racing with the club. Congratulations
Robert!

Our
race numbers have been steadily building, perhaps along with the
mercury these last few weeks, much to the joy of our great volunteer
club members who turn out each week as officials and road marshals to
ensure safe and well organised racing.

For
the record, we were getting: an average of some 58 competitors per
weekend race in May; 53 in June; 33 in July - our wettest and coldest
month; rising to 40 in August. So getting almost 70 for our first race
in September was 'a good look'. We look forward to similar numbers, or
even better at this week's classic race, the Iron Mike. Look forward to
seeing you out there.

Yass cancellation

Members
will see that the Events page has listed the 19 October Graded Scratch
race as 'cancelled' due to a clash with the National Capital Tour.

Your
Committee has made this decision as we had given a commitment to other
ACT cycling clubs that we would not schedule races which conflict with
their major events; for example we do not schedule a race when Fitz's
Challenge is run. The National Capital Tour race is indeed a big event
and our members may wish to watch this event, from the roadside or even
participate in it (available to our members who also hold CA
membership), or even volunteer to assist.

Unfortunately,
it has proved impossible to reschedule the 19 October Yass race for
another week - the lead in time for race approvals does not allow this.

Here is a notice of the National Capital Tour and its volunteer opportunities:-

Capital
Cycling, the umbrella body for cycling in the ACT, are conducting the
2015 National Capital Tour - one of the highest profile cycling events
in the ACT on 18 - 20 September and we need your support. Volunteer
opportunities are available in the following capacities:

Road marshalling

Driving

Grade coordinators

Radio control

Plus, many others!

If
you are interested in being part of the volunteer team (and receive a
great t-shirt!) at any time during the weekend (18-20 September) -
volunteer coordinator, Raynie NcNee, would love to hear from you by
email:events@capitalcycling.org.au

Regards,Alex

First Aiders Required

With
the approaching Footy Finals, Sports Med might have problems rostering
first-aiders for our races. Could any first-aid qualified club member
who is available to be on standby please contactIan Albreyto help us ensure we can keep the race schedule over this period.

Register for Fitz's Challenge in 2015

Fitz's
Challenge - Canberra’s long distance cycling event – will be held on
Sunday 25 October 2015 to provide participants the chance to choose
their challenge from one of five course distances while also raising
much needed funds for The Kids’ Cancer Project.

National Capital Tour

The
National Capital Tour is now in its third year and is unfolding to
become Canberra's premier road racing event. This year's event has
expanded to include both local and state club racers into the Graded
event categories allowing riders to mingle with Australia's' elite NRS
riders. The Graded events offer four categories A, B, C, D across 3
stages; Hill top finish at Corin Forest, Sunday morning road race
finishing with Sunday afternoon Criterium.

With $3800 in prize money on offer enter for your chance to claim the overall GC Jersey or wear the stage winner jersey.www.nationalcapitaltour.com.

RACE REPORT:

Uriarra Club Championships – 5th September

A
more splendid day could not have been arranged for the Annual Club
Championship at Uriarra. It was warm, sunny, no wind. Thanks to the good
condition, 67 riders turned up. The only down side was that the warm
weather has brought out the magpies for the start of swooping season.

As
noted in the Bleat, setup of the Club Championship course requires 38
signs to be erected for this course. Thanks to John Paul de Sousa, Terry
Merrigan, Peter Young, Andrew Remely, Tony Weir and James Meredith who
turned up early to help with the setup. Even with this assistance, it
took over an hour to have the course ready.

On the first lap, John Vaughan and Robert Britten had already broken away from M6 and were setting a brisk pace.

Many of the smaller grades broke up fairly quickly but the large bunches of M4 and M5 held together for most of the race.

In the Women's grades, Terry Moore had broken away by the first lap to lead W3.

By
the end of the race, only a couple of the bunches had survivived. M2
had a sprint finish with 4 riders, Marc Vroomans taking the honors. M4
had 6 riders vying for the finish with Rob Langridge beating out the
rest of the field.

Terry Moore lead the women home by a clear margin.

The Winners

M1: 1st Stuart Roseler (no picture)

M2: 1st Marc Vroomans, 2nd Peter Marshall, 3rd Steve Crispin

M3: 1st Stephen Blackburn, 2nd Christophe Barberet, 3rd Sean Ifland

M4: 1st Robert Langridge, 2nd Bruce Goodspeed, 3rd Mark Langman

M5: 1st Mark Harris, 2nd David Wilson, 3rd Dom Rideaux

M6: 1st John Vaughan, 2nd Robert Britten, 3rd Tony Beasley

M7: 1st Des Brown, 2nd Phil Martin, 3rd Bob Kent

M8: 1st Mike Spoljaric

M9: 1st Bruce Jones

W2: 1st Ally Roche, 2nd Linda Stals

W3: 1st Terry Moore, 2nd Jan Koehler, 3rd Sally Thomson

W4: 1st Barbara Bayliss

Thanks
to the Authorised Traffic Controllers, Dennis Jesop, Tony Weir, John
Paul de Sousa and James Meredith for controlling the turns. Thanks to
Andrew Remely, Peter Young Terry Merigan and Bernie Crowe at the
start/finish.

Special thanks to Keith Joliffe who filled in as qualified first aider due to our regular provider being unable to roster staff.